JP4186392B2 - Exhalation measuring device and microphone application device having exhalation measuring function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a breath measuring device that performs breath breath measurement or alcohol measurement by blowing a breath on a sensor and measuring the concentration of a specific component in the breath.
The present invention also relates to a microphone application device (telephone, loudspeaker, hands-free microphone, etc.) equipped with a breath measurement function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Since bad breath causes discomfort to surrounding people, an increasing number of people are concerned about bad breath, and an apparatus for easily measuring bad breath is becoming necessary. For this reason, a breath odor measuring device has already been commercialized under a trade name such as “Hard Breath Checker”. Commercially available breath odor detectors generally measure volatile substances in expired air as an indicator, and methyl mercaptan has a strong correlation with bad breath intensity. The halitosis intensity is determined from the medium concentration.
[0003]
In addition, blood alcohol level measurement is performed because of the necessity of preventing accidents caused by drunk driving, and the police have adopted to monitor the alcohol concentration contained in exhaled breath as a simple index of blood alcohol level. When measuring the amount of alcohol in the driver, the breath alcohol is sampled by passing the balloon to the subject and blowing the breath into the balloon and sending it to a dedicated measuring device or adsorption tube. A measuring method is used.
[0004]
Generally, an oxide semiconductor detection element that is small in size and excellent in responsiveness is used for detection of methyl mercaptan in the measurement of halitosis and detection of ethanol in the measurement of alcohol. The oxide semiconductor element has a property that the electric resistance of the element is greatly changed by adsorbing an odorous substance such as methyl mercaptan or an organic gas such as ethanol on its surface. By monitoring the change in electrical resistance (or electrical conductivity), the bad breath and the amount of alcohol are measured from the change (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-297675). The electrical resistance can be monitored by constructing a well-known simple current measuring circuit.
[0005]
In breath measuring devices such as breath odor measuring devices and alcohol measuring devices using such an oxide semiconductor detection element as a gas sensor, a sensor is attached to a part of the measuring device main body, and a test subject breathes toward the sensor. When sprayed, a specific component in the exhaled breath is adsorbed to the sensor, and the measurement result is determined based on the change in electrical resistance.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional breath measuring device simply outputs a measurement result mechanically based on an electrical resistance value or the like that has changed based on the breath that has been blown as described above. However, even when the same subject continuously measures without time interval, the measured value may fluctuate greatly, and it may seem that the bad breath and alcohol cannot be measured accurately. In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a breath measuring device in which a stable measurement result can be obtained even in the case of repeated measurement, in pursuit of the cause of fluctuation of the measurement result and based on the consideration.
[0007]
Moreover, even if it is called the breath measurement, the breath breath measurement is mainly concerned with the breath in the oral cavity, and the alcohol measurement is concerned with the breath from a deeper part (part closer to the stomach) than the mouth. Therefore, accurate breath measurement cannot be performed even if exhaled air other than exhaled gas emitted from the oral cavity is collected and measured, and accurate alcohol measurement cannot be performed even if exhaled gas other than exhaled gas emitted from deep is collected and measured. Therefore, the present invention can measure the breath in the oral cavity in the case of breath breath measurement, and can measure the breath in the deep part in the case of alcohol measurement, so that the breath from the site to be measured can be measured as the measurement gas. An object of the present invention is to provide an exhalation measuring device.
[0008]
Furthermore, the present invention aims to increase added value by adding functions that are not originally provided to these devices by attaching simple accessories to devices such as telephones and hands-free microphones that are essential. In particular, the object is to increase the added value of portable products such as mobile phones.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, an exhalation measuring device of the present invention is an exhalation measuring device for measuring exhalation from the oral cavity, which includes a gas sensor for detecting a component in the exhalation, an audio sensor, and an audio It is characterized by comprising a control unit for determining the state of breathing to the gas sensor by the subject based on the signal from the sensor.
[0010]
As a result of repeating the exhalation measurement by the same person and investigating the variation of the result, it is found that if the exhalation measurement is repeated by the same person, the measured value will change if the exhalation state of the gas sensor changes. It was found that the spraying state greatly influenced the measurement results. For this reason, it is necessary to always perform measurement by blowing exhaled air in a constant tone.
In this invention, in order to make the blowing state of the breath by the subject constant, the subject actively speaks and the blowing state is determined based on the voice state. In this way, the tone of the subject's voice is guided so as to be constant, and the measurement by the gas sensor is performed when the tone of the voice reaches the allowable range. Therefore, it is possible to always sample the expiration in a constant utterance state, that is, in a constant blowing state.
[0011]
Further, it is possible to sample the exhalation in the oral cavity by changing the utterance state or to sample the exhalation from the deep part. For this reason, the utterance state that can easily collect the exhalation is taught by the teaching means so that the exhalation from the optimum site is collected for each measurement purpose. When the subject exhales according to this teaching, it becomes possible to collect exhalation suitable for the measurement.
[0012]
The method for determining the spray state differs depending on the substance to be measured. In the case of bad breath, judgment is made based on changes over time in the volume level (voice volume). That is, when measuring the concentration of methyl mercaptan in the oral cavity, since the concentration of methyl mercaptan is low (about 80 PPB), the measured value tends to vary if the rate of expiration is too fast. Therefore, in order to perform the measurement so that the expiratory speed is optimized, the temporal change in the volume level of the voice is monitored, and the bad breath is measured from the measured data when this approaches the target value (optimum curve). To do.
[0013]
In addition, the determination of the blowing state at the time of alcohol measurement is based on the magnitude of a specific frequency contained in the voice (whether it is a high voice or a low voice) and the volume level of the voice (the volume of the sound). That is, in the alcohol measurement, it is meaningless to measure the alcohol in the oral cavity, and it is necessary to measure the alcohol concentration of the breath from the deep part (the part close to the stomach). For this reason, a low-pitched sound is uttered for a while so as to make an exhalation by abdominal breathing, so that an exhalation from the deep part is taken out and an appropriate exhalation is collected to measure alcohol.
In this way, the voice is used to measure the spraying state in an appropriate state, and the bad breath and alcohol are measured from the data.
[0014]
In the present invention, an audio sensor is used. In a microphone device using a microphone such as a telephone handset, loudspeaker, or hands-free microphone, a microphone as an audio sensor is inherently provided. Therefore, by providing a gas sensor to a telephone and using a voice signal captured by a microphone to make the utterance state constant, we provide telephones with a highly reproducible and reliable breath odor measurement function and alcohol measurement function. can do.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of an expiration measuring device showing an embodiment of the present invention. The breath measuring device of this embodiment uses a mobile phone, and therefore has all the well-known components necessary for exhibiting the function as a mobile phone. A description of only the mobile phone other than the common parts necessary for carrying out a certain breath measurement function will be omitted.
[0016]
As shown in the figure, the breath measuring device 1 is housed in a main body case 2 rich in portability. The main body case 2 has a display unit 3 composed of an LCD, which is used both when used as a breath measuring device and when used as a mobile phone, and a button-type setting key 4 for performing necessary input (for each key) A specific number is assigned, and functions necessary for operations such as “confirm”, “correction”, and “reset” are assigned), and each part of the microphone 5 is provided. A speaker 6 for listening to the voice from the other party when used as a mobile phone is also attached. The speaker 6 is not necessarily required when used as an expiration measuring device, but is required when a message is also generated as a voice at the same time when various messages are displayed on the display unit.
[0017]
A sensor cover 7 for shielding the gas sensor 6 and the gas sensor 6 is attached in the vicinity of the microphone 5. The sensor cover 7 can be manually opened and closed. It is preferable that the microphone 5 and the gas sensor 6 have a positional relationship in which the subject's breath is blown to the gas sensor 6 when the subject speaks toward the microphone 5. Further, the sensor cover 7 may be provided with an opening / closing drive mechanism so as to automatically open / close in conjunction with the measurement.
[0018]
The gas sensor 6 is used by selecting an optimum detection element depending on the substance to be measured. For example, when the bad breath is measured from the methyl mercaptan concentration, an oxide semiconductor element mainly composed of zinc oxide is suitable. In alcohol measurement, an oxide semiconductor detection element mainly composed of tin oxide is suitable. The number of sensors is not necessarily one, and a plurality of different types of sensors may be used. In this description, for simplification, both the bad breath measurement and the alcohol measurement are measured by one sensor (referred to as the bad breath sensor 11 and the alcohol sensor 12, respectively). If the sensitivity is not a problem, the bad breath sensor and the alcohol sensor can be shared by one sensor (for example, using tin oxide).
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a control system of the breath measuring device of the present invention. The control unit 10 includes a CPU and a memory (including a voice memory if necessary). A program for controlling the breath measuring device 1 is stored in the memory and controls the entire system. In addition, when used as a mobile phone, the control unit 10 controls the mobile phone function to be exhibited.
[0020]
The bad breath sensor 11 and the alcohol sensor 12 constituting the gas sensor 6 are connected to the control unit 10 via detection circuits 13 and 14, respectively. The detection circuits 13 and 14 are circuits for detecting a change in electrical resistance or electrical conductivity before and after exhalation is blown. Output signals from the detection circuits 13 and 14 are sent to the control unit 10.
[0021]
The audio signal from the microphone 5 is sent in two directions. One of them is sent to the volume measuring circuit 18 through the filter circuit 16. The filter circuit 16 separates the audio signal for each frequency, and bandpass filters having three different frequencies of 400 Hz, 600 Hz, and 1 KHz are used. When the audio signal passes through the filter circuit 16, it is separated into three different frequencies of 400 Hz, 600 Hz, and 1 KHz and sent to the volume measuring circuit 18, so that the volume level of each frequency band is measured separately. The signal sent to the sound volume measuring circuit 18 is used for alcohol concentration measurement. Of these three frequency volumes, the central 600 Hz volume level is the reference for determining the volume. 400 Hz and 1 KHz are used as criteria for judging sound quality (high voice, low voice). A reference level is defined for the volume level of 600 Hz. When a volume greater than this reference level is uttered, it is determined that the volume is sufficient. Further, by comparing the volume levels of 400 Hz, 600 Hz, and 1 KHz, it is determined that the sound quality is too low when shifted to 400 Hz, and the sound quality is determined to be too high when shifted to 1 KHz.
[0022]
The audio signal from the microphone 5 is also sent to the voice recorder 20. The voice recorder 20 can record a change in volume level in a short time (about 1 second). The signal sent to the voice recorder 20 is used for measuring bad breath. The voice signal uttered by the subject is captured by the voice recorder 20 as time-volume data. By calculating the ideal time-volume data curve corresponding to the change in the optimal expiration rate, suitable for breath breath measurement, and comparing this data with the time-volume change data at the actual measurement, Accurate measurement is performed by collecting only measurement data that is close to the data.
[0023]
The key input unit 22 is used to input information necessary for measurement. In the present embodiment, the setting key 4 of the mobile phone is used. That is, a selection function of “mobile phone mode” and “exhalation measurement mode” is assigned to a specific button of the setting key 4, and a breathing operation is performed from the mobile phone mode by a specific operation (for example, pressing the button for 5 seconds) for the specific button. The mode is switched to the measurement mode. When switched to the breath measurement mode, functions necessary for breath measurement are assigned to other specific buttons. Here, functions necessary for breath measurement include the “bad breath measurement / alcohol measurement selection function”, “frequency band change function”, “reference volume level change function”, etc. for alcohol measurement, etc. Function ". If you want to change these settings, you can change them by pressing a button.
[0024]
The display unit 24 is for displaying various messages to the subject. In the present embodiment, the display unit 3 of the mobile phone is used.
[0025]
The speaker 26 emits various messages as voice signals to the subject. In this embodiment, the speaker 6 of the mobile phone is used. When using as a mobile phone, the speaker 6 is used close to the ear, but when used as a breath measuring device, it is used away from the ear, so the volume of the speaker is the same as when using a mobile phone and when using the breath measuring device. To switch automatically.
[0026]
Hereinafter, the alcohol measurement and bad breath measurement operations will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, alcohol measurement will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of alcohol measurement, and FIG. 4 is a display screen of the display unit 6 that performs display for prompting the subject to blow exhalation suitable for alcohol measurement at the time of alcohol measurement. .
When the mode is switched to the alcohol measurement mode by an input operation to the setting key 4 (st30), the alcohol sensor 12 is turned on (st31). Subsequently, a message “Please speak for 10 seconds” is displayed on the display unit 3 (24) (st32). At this time, a similar message is also emitted as sound from the speaker 6 (26) (in the following operation, when a message in words is displayed on the screen, the message is also emitted as sound, but the sound is emitted on each screen. Will be omitted).
[0027]
Subsequently, on the display screen 3 (24), a graph screen is displayed with the frequency on the horizontal axis and the volume level on the vertical axis as shown in FIG. On the graph screen, three frequencies of 400 and 6001 KHz are displayed on the horizontal axis, and when the subject utters, the sound volume of each frequency is displayed as a bar graph. For the 600 Hz band, a reference level line is displayed and a message “Please come out here” is attached. When the subject speaks into the microphone 5 (12), the audio signal is separated into frequency bands by the filter circuit 16 and sent to the volume measuring circuit 18, and the volume level of each frequency is measured and the detection result is controlled. The volume is displayed in a bar graph for each frequency on the display unit 3 (24). The control unit 10 determines whether the volume of 600 Hz of the volume levels of the three frequency bands is maximum (st33). If 400 Hz is the maximum, "please speak loudly", 1KHz When is the maximum, a message “Please speak low” is displayed (st34). Then, for re-measurement, the message display screen saying “Please speak for 10 seconds” is returned and redoed (st32).
When the volume of 600 Hz is maximum, it is determined that the sound quality is appropriate, and the process proceeds to the next step.
[0028]
Next, it is determined whether the volume level of 600 Hz exceeds the reference level (st35). If the volume does not reach the reference level within 3 seconds from the display of “st32”, it is determined that the volume is inappropriate. A message “Please speak loudly” is displayed (st36). Then, for re-measurement, the message display screen saying “Please speak for 10 seconds” is returned and redoed (st32). When the volume level of 600 Hz is equal to or higher than the reference level, it is determined that the volume is appropriate and the process proceeds to the next step.
[0029]
If it is determined that the sound quality and sound volume are appropriate within 3 seconds in this way, a message “Open the cover” is displayed together with the message “Start measurement” when 5 seconds have passed (st37). When the subject who has seen this display opens the sensor cover 7, exhaled breath is blown to the alcohol sensor 12, data after the elapse of 5 seconds is collected (st 38), and alcohol measurement is executed. In the case where the automatic opening / closing mechanism is attached to the sensor cover 7, the sensor cover 7 is opened by sending an open signal from the control unit 10 to the automatic opening / closing mechanism simultaneously with the display of the “measurement start” message.
When the measurement is executed, the alcohol concentration is estimated based on the output value of the alcohol sensor sensor (st39), and the estimated value is displayed on the display screen (st40).
When the measurement is completed, a message “Close the cover” is displayed together with a message “Measurement completed” (st41). When the automatic opening / closing mechanism of the sensor cover 7 is attached, a close signal is sent and the sensor cover 7 is closed.
[0030]
Next, measurement of halitosis will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation during breath breath measurement, and FIG. 6 is a display screen that displays a display for prompting the subject to blow exhalation suitable for breath breath measurement during the breath breath measurement.
[0031]
When switching to the breath breath measurement mode by an input operation to the setting key 4 (st50), the breath breath sensor 11 is turned on (st51). Subsequently, in order to accumulate the bad breath substance in the exhalation, a message “Please close your mouth for 5 seconds” is displayed on the display unit 3 (24) (st52). This prompts the subject to stay in the mouth for a while.
[0032]
Subsequently, “Speak“ Pat ”and approach the target value of the voice meter” is displayed on the display screen 3 (24) (st53). As a result, the subject is prompted to open his / her mouth and blow exhalation when blowing exhalation.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6, the display screen displays a graph screen showing time on the horizontal axis and volume level on the vertical axis. On the graph screen, the volume change curve that is the target value is displayed as a solid line, and when the subject utters, the measurement value is displayed as a broken line, and a waiting state is entered. This target value is obtained in advance for the volume change when the expiratory blowing speed is in a state suitable for measurement. Then, when the subject makes a voice “puff” toward the microphone 5 (12), the sound signal is sent to the voice recorder 20, the change in volume level with time is measured and sent to the control unit 10, and the display unit 3 (24 ), A volume change curve as a measured value is displayed by a broken line. Whether the difference between the target value and the measured value is within the allowable range is determined by the control unit 10 (st54), and when it is away from the allowable range, a message “I am away from the target value” is displayed to the subject. It is urged to adjust the expiratory blowing speed (st55). Then, for the re-measurement, the message display screen saying “Please say“ Pat ”and get close to the target value of the voice meter” is returned to and restarted (st53).
[0033]
When the difference between the target value and the measured value is within the allowable range, the message “Start measurement” is displayed, and “Speak as before,” “Open the cover”. Is displayed (st56). As a result, the subject opens the sensor cover 7 and blows exhalation in the same manner as when practicing, so that exhaled breath suitable for breath breath measurement is blown to the breath breath sensor 11 (st57). At this time, simultaneously with the measurement of the breath odor sensor, the change over time in the volume level by the voice recorder is simultaneously monitored (st57, 58), and when it is away from the target value, the message “I am away from the target value” is displayed. (St55) to prompt remeasurement (st53). Needless to say, when the automatic opening / closing mechanism is attached to the sensor cover 7, the sensor cover is automatically opened and closed simultaneously with the start of measurement (end of measurement) as in the previous example.
[0034]
When the volume level is within the allowable range and the measurement is successful (st59), the methyl mercaptan concentration is estimated from the collected data (s60), and the degree of bad breath is displayed based on the concentration (st61). After a while, a “measurement end” message and a “close cover” message are displayed, and the measurement ends (st62).
[0035]
In this embodiment, the blowing speed is determined based on the volume level of the voice captured by the microphone, but the sound pressure sensor may be separately attached for measurement. If the sensitivity is sufficient, a pressure sensor may be used. In the present invention, such a thing is also handled as being included in the audio sensor.
[0036]
In this embodiment, the display screen (or by voice together with the display screen) is used to prompt the subject to be in an appropriate state of exhalation. However, when the apparatus needs to be simplified, the teaching information is shown. In the alcohol measurement, the measurement is performed only when the volume level of the predetermined frequency reaches the reference level, and in the breath breath measurement, the difference between the target value and the measurement value in the change in the volume level over time is measured. The measurement may be performed only within the allowable range, and the result may not be output otherwise. In this case, the utterance method is taught in detail in the instruction manual or the like, and the subject grasps the appropriate spraying state by practicing several times according to the explanation.
[0037]
In the present embodiment, an exhalation measuring device using a mobile phone is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. A microphone application device using a microphone that converts sound into an electrical signal is convenient for implementing the present invention because the microphone can be used as a sound sensor. For example, it can be applied to a loudspeaker, a hands-free microphone, and the like. As described above, by providing the telephone device (including a mobile phone) and the microphone application device with the breath measurement function of the present invention, a different utility value is created in the telephone device and the microphone, and the added value of the product is increased. Greatly improved. Of course, it goes without saying that the breath measuring device can be marketed as a single product.
[0038]
The utterance method shown in this embodiment is only an example. It goes without saying that an appropriate utterance method may be used depending on the measurement object.
Embodiments of the present invention are summarized below.
(1) An exhalation measuring device for measuring exhalation from the oral cavity, a gas sensor for detecting components in exhalation, a sensor cover for shielding the gas sensor, a sensor cover opening / closing drive mechanism, and an audio sensor And a breath measuring device, comprising: a control unit that determines a state of breathing to the gas sensor by the subject based on a signal from the voice sensor and controls the sensor cover opening / closing drive mechanism. According to this embodiment, it is possible to measure without taking the timing for collecting expiration suitable for measurement.
(2) An exhalation measuring device for measuring exhalation from the oral cavity, a gas sensor for detecting a component in exhalation, a microphone, and a breathing of exhalation by a subject to the gas sensor based on an audio signal from the microphone A breath measuring device comprising: a control unit for determining a state; and teaching means for giving information to a subject to an appropriate blowing state when the blowing state is not appropriate.
(3) An exhalation measuring device for measuring exhalation from the oral cavity, which is a gas sensor for detecting components in exhalation, a microphone, and a signal in a volume of a specific frequency band among audio signals from the microphone. A breathing unit comprising: a control unit for determining a breathing state of a breath by the subject based on the gas sensor; and teaching means for giving information to the subject to make a suitable blowing state when the blowing state is inappropriate Measuring instrument.
(4) An exhalation measuring device for measuring exhalation from the oral cavity, a gas sensor for detecting a component of exhalation, a microphone, a voice recorder for monitoring a temporal change in an audio signal from the microphone, and a voice recorder And a control unit for determining a state of blowing the breath to the gas sensor based on data from the sensor, and a teaching means for giving information to the subject to make a suitable state when the state of blowing is not appropriate. Breath measuring device.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, measurement can be performed with exhaled breath under the same conditions regardless of the gender and physique of the subject, so that the reproducibility and reliability of measurement can be improved.
[0040]
In addition, since alcohol can be measured by exhalation from the deep part, and breath odor can be measured by exhalation from the oral cavity, it is possible to measure the exhalation of the part that should be measured as the measurement gas, and perform accurate measurement. be able to.
[0041]
Furthermore, the present invention can increase added value by attaching a simple accessory part to an application device that requires a microphone such as a telephone or a microphone.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an expiration measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an expiration measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a flowchart for measuring alcohol.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen at the time of alcohol measurement.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a flowchart for measuring bad breath.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when measuring bad breath.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Breath measuring device
2: Body case (mobile phone housing)
3, 24: Display section
4: Setting key
5, 26: Microphone
6: Speaker
7: Sensor cover
8: Gas sensor
10: Control unit
11: Bad breath sensor
12: Alcohol sensor
16: Filter circuit
18: Volume measurement circuit
20: Voice recorder

Claims (5)

An exhalation measuring device for measuring exhalation from the oral cavity,
An exhalation measuring device comprising: a gas sensor for detecting a component in exhalation; an audio sensor; and a control unit that determines a state of exhalation of exhalation to the gas sensor by a subject based on a signal from the audio sensor. An exhalation measuring device for measuring exhalation from the oral cavity,
Appropriate for the subject when the insufflation is not appropriate, a gas sensor for detecting the components in the exhalation, a voice sensor, a control unit for determining the breathing state of the subject to the gas sensor based on the signal from the voice sensor A breath measuring device, comprising: teaching means for providing information for making a proper blowing state. The breath measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a microphone of a microphone application device is used as the voice sensor. A microphone application apparatus including a microphone, the apparatus including a gas sensor for detecting a component in exhalation, and a control unit that determines a breathing state of the subject to the gas sensor based on a signal from the microphone . The microphone application apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the microphone application apparatus is a telephone.

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